Customers can qualify for these funds if they are San Antonio residents, can show proof of economic hardship and are at or below 125% of the poverty level.Įlena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. More funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will distribute $10 million to SAWS, or about 13,000 customers. Those at risk of being disconnected will get a letter two weeks before being shut off and an automated call one week before. It is unnerving to hear people coming up to our resource events and weren’t aware of the assistance available.”Ĭustomers with overdue SAWS accounts have so far received notice via mail, phone calls and door hangers to alert them of pending disconnections. “We need to continue to push this message out in every form we have. “There are still thousands of residents that are impacted and disadvantaged in terms of access and just don’t know about these options,” Nirenberg said. Regarding customers at risk of having their water shut off, Mayor Ron Nirenberg expressed concern that a fair number of residents are unaware of the resources SAWS is providing. Nearly 13,000 customers - those in the affordability discount program and those not - have failed to adhere to their payment plans, while a little over 3,000 have fully paid their overdue balances, including some 862 who were on automatic payment plans. Of those customers who have had their water service disconnected, Bailey said about 60% have been reconnected by either making a payment or enrolling in a payment plan, leaving roughly 300 still without water. Perhaps since COVID-19, customers can now qualify for the program.” “They can also apply for the affordability discount program if they have not already.
“First and foremost, customers need to enter into a payment arrangement,” said Mary Bailey, vice president of customer experience and strategic initiatives at SAWS, while briefing SAWS’ board of trustees Tuesday. On : City of San Antonio considers devoting $30 million in stimulus funds to pay residents' utility bills Still, nearly 62,000 SAWS customers have balances past due as of Oct. To address the issue, SAWS has implemented automatic payment plans for residents who owe $2,000 or less and placed six-month holds on delinquent accounts of customers enrolled in the water company’s affordability discount program.
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